Easy Appetizer Meatballs

Recipe Courtesy of friend

Prep Time  5 minutes
Total Time  2-3 hours
Serves 10-12

If you haven't had these before, they are a must at your next get together.  Super easy and there are never any leftovers!

Ingredients

1 32-oz bag frozen meatballs
1 18-oz jar grape jelly
1 18-oz jar chili sauce

Directions:


Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place meatballs in bottom of cooker.  Mix jelly and chili sauce in small bowl.  Pour over meatballs.  Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until hot.

Apricot-Onion Pork Chops

Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home
Modified Slightly

Prep Time  15 minutes
Total Time  30 minutes
Serves 6

The sauce is a combination of sweet and tangy.  This was really good!

Ingredients:

6 boneless pork chops
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, sliced and seperated into rings
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 teaspoon minced, fresh gingerroot
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 1/2 teaspoons water

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown pork chops in butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until tender. Combine the broth, preserves, ginger and garlic; pour into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until meat juices run clear.

Remove chops and keep warm. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Spoon over pork chops.

Broccoli Salad

Recipe Courtesy of family member

Prep Time  20 minutes
Total Time  20 minutes
Serves 8-10

My sister in law made this a few years ago for a family gathering.  I'm usually not a big fan of broccoli but this was so good that I asked for the recipe.

Ingredients:
2 heads fresh broccoli, broken into small florets
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 lb bacon, fried and crumbled into small pieces
2 cups shredded cheese

Directions:
Mix all ingredients and set aside. 

Salad Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Mix dressing ingredients in small bowl and pour over broccoli mixture.  Combine well.  Chill until ready to serve.

Potato Skin Poppers

Recipe Courtesy of Daisy brand Sour Cream

Prep Time  35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Serves 12-14

Great finger foods to serve to kids or at a party!

Ingredients:

3 cups frozen, diced potatoes (or hash browns)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

16 oz. sour cream (divided)

¾ cup cooked bacon pieces

1/3 cup chopped green onions

1 dash salt & pepper to taste

14 flour tortillas

2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Cook potatoes according to package directions. In a bowl, stir together cooked potatoes, cheese, 1 cup sour cream, bacon, onions, salt and pepper. Warm the tortillas, then spoon equal amounts of mixture in the center of each. Roll tortillas burrito-style, brush with melted butter and place seam-side down on a baking pan. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.  Let cool 5 minutes, then cut diagonally into halves. Serve with remaining sour cream.

Oven Barbequed Chicken

Recipe Courtesy of Better Homes & Garden

Prep Time  15 minutes
Total Time  45 minutes
Serves 4-6

Slightly sweet, slightly tangy.  The chicken comes out moist and juicy.   My daughter is a picky eater and she ate everything on her plate!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 - 3 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks)
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon cooking oil

3/4 cup bottled chili sauce

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Shortcuts:

Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of bone-in chicken to cut the cooking time in half.   Just skip the first 25 minutes of cooking noted below.

Omit the horseradish and red pepper to make this less spicy and kid friendly.  It still tastes great without them.

Directions:

Skin chicken. Arrange chicken, bone side up, in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan cook onion and garlic in hot oil over medium heat until tender but not brown. Stir in chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, mustard, horseradish, and crushed red pepper; heat through.

Turn chicken bone side down. Brush half of the sauce over the chicken. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F for breasts; 180 degrees F for thighs and drumsticks). Reheat remaining sauce; pass with the chicken.

Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice

Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time  8 hours
Serves 6-8

This recipe was easy and delicious!  I skipped the red pepper flakes to make it kid-friendly.   My son ate his "all gone". 
Change it up by adding andouille sausage or diced, cooked ham..

Ingredients:

• 4 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 package (14 ounces) smoked turkey sausage, sliced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 green onions, chopped
• Hot cooked rice

Directions

• In a 4-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir before serving. Discard bay leaf.
• Sprinkle each serving with onions. Serve with rice.

Low-Cal Mexican Lasagna

Recipe Courtesy of Food Network

Prep Time  20 minutes
Total Time  65 minutes
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey, chicken or beef

1 chopped red onion

1 small can green chiles

1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon cumin

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 pkg. wheat tortillas, 6 or 8 inch size

2 1/2 cups low-fat cheddar cheese

2 cups low-fat cream cheese

1 cup chopped green onions

Directions:

Brown meat in large skillet & drain fat.  Set aside.  Saute onion & garlic. Add cumin, chili powder, garlic, chiles and tomatoes.  Add meat back to mixture.

Combine 2 cups cheddar cheese  and 2 cups cream cheese in medium bowl.

Spray 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.  Layer tortillas, meat, cheese mixture & green onions.  Top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.  Bake 45 minutes at 375.